Hey, Danny -deal with it
Published Wednesday October 28th, 2009
Premier Shawn Graham has written a diplomatic response to Newfoundland leader Danny Williams, defending New Brunswick's negotiations with Hydro-Quebec. The person on the street has a shorter, sharper rebuke: mind your own business.
The same could be said to Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter, who has echoed Mr. Williams' comments.
Newfoundland and Nova Scotia have done everything they can to exploit energy assets, and New Brunswick has tried to do likewise - more often than not, hampered by the federal government and such self-serving "regionalists" as Mr. Williams. New Brunswickers aren't moved by Mr. Williams' prima donna routine. He should save it for remarks aimed at Ottawa.
New Brunswick has little to learn from Newfoundland or Nova Scotia on the subject of energy. Neither province owns the utility that serves its citizens, and neither has made a comparable public investment in getting their power to market. Moreover, neither has supported New Brunswick politically when energy agreements were being hammered out at the federal level.
Where were Newfoundland and Nova Scotia when New Brunswick was shut out of the Atlantic Accord? Or when legislators sought federal support for the refurbishment of Point Lepreau? Where are they now on the issue of compensation for refurbishment delays?
New Brunswick and P.E.I. could have used some regional support in these pitched discussions. Mr. Williams has been too busy lobbying and threatening the federal government to pay much heed to what his neighbours might require - and regional energy policy is showing the strain.
Ottawa has offered little support for New Brunswick's efforts to create an energy hub, despite its regional impact. New Brunswick was actually left out of the federal announcement of funding for an Atlantic energy gateway. And the federal response to the costly delays at Point Lepreau has been to suggest that NB Power should sue if it wants compensation. This shows disrespect for the ratepayers of New Brunswick and P.E.I.
Mr. Williams' bellyaching is not about the regional or national interest. It's about who will take the largest share of New England's energy market.
This province has something of value to trade - its electrical grid and proximity to the United States. Distance is Mr. Williams' big liability, and it won't be resolved by throwing a temper tantrum.
Evidently, Hydro-Quebec has realized that negotiating with New Brunswick could pay dividends to both provinces. Is Mr. Williams angry because he didn't think of this first - or is he just opposed to the idea of competition?
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Comments (18)
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I say again Mr. Graham bring it to the people and let us decide..man up and call the election.
Thank god we have the CBC to provide impartial coverage of this debate.
I love when the Irving media puts words in the mouths of the "person on the street."
ANYONE I've talked to says this is BAD news, I have not heard one defender of selling our utility to Quebec.
Perhaps before writing these pronouncements, Irving should actually CHECK with the people on the street.
If Brunswick News intends to use their newspapers to sway public opinion, at least be up front about it.
I thought wafer-gate would have taught Jamie Irving to keep his nose out of politics.
A move this important can't be shoved down our throats when the mandate has less than a year to go.
Either call the election now or suspend talks till after the next provincial election and then and only then will the government of the day have the mandate to negotiate away our energy future.
Maybe Mr. Williams will offer us more for NBPower than Quebec Hydro was prepared to offer. Courting both may realize bigger gains.